It's apparently "Coach" Sanders or it's no Sanders for Deion Sanders ... 'cause the Jackson State head man allegedly shut down interviews Tuesday after reporters referred to him as simply "Deion."
The bizarre scene reportedly took place during SWAC Media Day in Birmingham, Ala. ... when the Clarion Ledger claims Sanders went off on one of its writers, Nick Suss, for calling the coach by his 1st name.
"You don't call Nick Saban, 'Nick,'" the outlet claims Sanders told Suss, referring to Alabama's legendary head football coach.